Ebony Mapp

The city of Shreveport has signed on to a nationwide initiative to encourage residents to open checking accounts and use them to their full advantage, even if they’ve had banking problems in the past. Bank On Shreveport aims to help local residents move toward financial stability and reduce the reliance on high-cost check cashers and payday lenders, according to Ebony Mapp, the city’s economic development special projects manager.

“It’s a real loss for our community. It’s those types of services -- some of them are predatory -- that can dilute the wealth of a city," Mapp said.